W. Barry Blum
Prior to his corporate career, he spent 15 years in private law practice and was a founding partner of two firms, where he concentrated his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, franchise, distribution and licensing litigation, and securities litigation and arbitrations.
In addition to his commercial litigation background, Barry has extensive business experience. Both as in-house counsel and business client, he has developed solutions for financially distressed franchisees, negotiated purchases, and sales of franchise businesses, and overseen recapitalizations of franchise businesses. Barry has also structured and implemented an international master franchise arrangement, managed supply and distribution relationships through critical periods, and directed key franchising functions, including approval of new franchisees, initiatives to increase minority franchisee ownership, and programs and incentives to increase franchise agreement renewal rates.
Barry is a member of the American Bar Association, including the Forum on Franchising and Section on Dispute Resolution, the International Franchise Association Supplier Forum, and is past co-chair, International Franchise Association, Corporate Counsel Committee. He is a frequent speaker at franchise and professional conferences on such topics as litigation, franchise legal issues, and legal department management, and he has written several articles for franchise and legal publications.
Related Practices
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. magna cum laude University of Miami School of Law 1982
- B.A. cum laude Brown University 1979
Bar Admissions
- Florida
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Forum on Franchising, American Bar Association
- Member, Section on Dispute Resolution, American Bar Association
- Member, International Franchise Association
- Member, Supplier Forum, International Franchise Association
- Past co-chair, Corporate Counsel Committee, International Franchise Association
Recognition
- Chambers USA, Franchising, Nationwide, 2022 – 2023
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2024
- Super Lawyers, 2017 – 2023
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Peer Review Rated
- Franchise Times, Legal Eagle
- South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyer
- Florida Trend, Legal Elite